The Portland daily press., 1887-05-18
FROM WASHINGTON.
State Of vlrolrIa Ronds.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-The appearance
| of an English diplomat of the first order in
| the person of Sir Edward Thornton as the
| head of the commission to confer and negoti-
ate in the interest Of the English holders of
the bonds issued by the State of Virginia for
debts contracted prior to the rebellion, and
before the dismemEerment of the States ter
ritory, has caused much speculation. This
problem seems to be solved, now that it is
ascertained that the high contracting parties
have failed to agree upon any plan of settle
ment. 1t Is believed by some who have fav-
orable opportunities to judge that the failure
is only one step, and that premeditated in
the plan of Sir Edward Thornton, as he
much prefers to rely upon the principle of
International law which constitutes the
United States the debtor instead of Vir-
ginia, made so by the destruction of the au-
tonomy of the State by the Federal govern
ment These negotiations are simply pre-
liminary proceedings, leading to a demand
by the English government upon the govern
ment of the United States for the payment
of the principal and interest of the original
debt due by Virginia to English citizens.
Seeking the Public Crib.
No fewer than four of the gentlemen who
are mentioned as available for the success
sion of Justice Wood of the United States
Supreme Court are eX-Confederates, who
ity of the tribunal to which they aspire.
Doubtless these gentlemen have a vastly
stronger belief in the durability OF the con-
stitution than they had in 1860.
Ben: PerIeY Poore Suddenly Taken M.
Maj. Ben Perley Poore was suddenly
taken with fainting turn in his room at the
capitol this afternoon. Dr. j. Ii, Baxter was
at once summoned. The Major has rallied
and Is to be removed to the Ebbitt House.
His friends hope that the attack will not
prove serious. He has not been in good
health for some time.
Major Pcore was taken to the Ebbitt
House safely. he has rallied and is perfectly
conscious. His doctors say that they
cannot yet tell how seriously i'll he is,
but they hope for the best. They say his
fall may have been simply the result of ex-
haustion. Dr. Baxter says: 1--WE see no
signs Of fusion on the brain, of apoplexy or
OF paralysis in Major Poore's case. The inn
mediate difficulty seems to have been what
may be called case of sun-wilt. He was
weak and walked in the sun and wilted
down.. AT present see no serious indica-
tlons." In this statement the consulting ply
sician, DR.. Harrison, concurred.
A Report to the State Department.
The Department of State has received
from Consul General Phelan, at Halifax,
report in the case of the American schooner
Clara j. Friend, which was refused permis-
sion TO procure supplies at Halifax. The
Consul General says the vessel was engaged
in deep sea fishing on the Banks that the
weather had been very severe, supplies be-
came exhausted, and as provisions could not
be secured in Canada the voyage is likely to
prove failure.
Pensions Granted.
Pensions have been granted to Maine resi-
dents to-day as follows:
Daniel II. Saunders, original, Hancock
William A. Thomas, deceased original, Port
land
Timothy Callahan. original Lewiston.
Benjamin Atwood, increase, Winterport.
Zemro S. Hall, restoration and increase. Har-
rington.
Amos II. Allen, reissue and increase, Sargent